Leaders of Canadian organizations are more confident than American, British and Australian they can beat back targeted Internet attacks, according to a new survey.

The study, paid for by BAE Systems, which sells security and data solutions for governments, carriers and the transportation industry, showed that Canadians were the most confident when asked if their company and their sector were well equipped to prevent targeted cyber attacks.

The vast majority– 92 per cent — were confident in their organization’s ability to prevent targeted attacks compared to 88 per cent of respondents overall. A similar majority (90%) were confident in their sector’s ability to prevent attacks versus 78% overall.

Respondents were 350 strategic and IT decision makers in the UK, US, Australia and Canada surveyed last fall.

Interestingly, though, 30 per cent of Canadian organizations surveyed did not have, or were unaware of, crisis plans in the event of a cyber attack on their company. Of those respondents who did have crisis plans, Canadians were the least likely to say these plans were well publicized ( 37 per cent compared to 54 per cent) overall.

OTTAWA — A targeted cyber attack on a private company or organization controlling a piece of Canada’s critical infrastructure could leave the federal government on the sidelines, able to offer help but with no guarantee that it would be accepted.

Nor would there be any way for the federal government to force companies to accept its involvement should a targeted hack take down critical infrastructure such as electrical plants, water systems or rail, an issue identified during two cyber exercises last year.

VANCOUVER – The vulnerability of the energy industry’s new wireless smart grid will inevitably lead to lights out for everyone, according to leading cyber expert David Chalk. In an online interview for an upcoming documentary film entitled ‘Take Back Your Power’ ( www.ThePowerFilm.org ), Chalk says the entire power grid will be at risk to being taken down by cyber attack, and if installations continue it’s only a matter of time.